Porbandar district is an administrative district in the Saurashtra region of the western Indian state of Gujarat. Its headquarters is the coastal town of Porbandar, situated on the Arabian Sea. The district is best known internationally as the birthplace of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who was born in Porbandar in 1869.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Gujarat |
| Region | Saurashtra |
| Headquarters | Porbandar |
| Formed | 1997 (carved out of Junagadh district) |
| Coastline | Arabian Sea |
Porbandar district lies on the south-western coast of the Saurashtra peninsula. It is bounded by the Arabian Sea to the south and west, by Devbhumi Dwarka district and Jamnagar district to the north, by Rajkot district to the north-east, and by Junagadh district to the east and south-east. The terrain is largely a coastal plain with low hills inland, including parts of the Barda Hills, which support the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary. The Bhadar and other smaller rivers drain the district.
The district is divided into talukas centred on Porbandar, Ranavav and Kutiyana. Local self-government is exercised through the Porbandar district panchayat, municipal bodies for the principal towns, and gram panchayats at the village level. Porbandar is also a Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency.
The region historically formed the princely state of Porbandar under the Jethwa Rajput dynasty during British paramountcy, and acceded to the Indian Union after independence in 1947. After the reorganisation of states, it became part of Gujarat in 1960. Porbandar district in its present form was constituted in 1997, when it was separated from the larger Junagadh district as part of administrative reorganisation in Gujarat.
Porbandar town is the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. His ancestral home, Kirti Mandir, has been preserved as a memorial and museum and is a major site of national heritage interest.
The district's economy combines agriculture, fisheries, mineral-based industry and port-related activity. Limestone deposits support a significant cement industry, with major plants located in the Ranavav area. Fishing is a long-established occupation along the coast, and Porbandar has one of the important fishing harbours of Gujarat. Agricultural produce includes groundnut, cotton, bajra and pulses. The Port of Porbandar handles cargo traffic on the Arabian Sea coast.
Porbandar is connected by the Porbandar railway station on the Indian Railways network and by Porbandar Airport, which offers limited domestic services. National Highway connections link the district with Rajkot, Junagadh, Jamnagar and Dwarka.
The population is predominantly Gujarati-speaking, with Hindus forming the majority and significant Muslim and Jain minorities. The Mer community has a strong cultural presence in the district, alongside other Saurashtrian communities. Urbanisation is concentrated around Porbandar town, while the rest of the district remains largely rural.
Porbandar district holds national significance as the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and regional importance as a coastal, industrial and fishing district of Saurashtra. Its combination of Gandhian heritage, ancient temple associations and natural sites such as the Barda Hills makes it a notable destination within Gujarat.